Key operated warm air register



April 18, 1933. 'w TRUAX 1,904,636

KEY OPERATED WARM AIR REGISTER Filed Dec. 31, 1930 III 1 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM THOMAS TRUAX, or BATTLE cnnnx, Mrcmenn, ASSiGNOR, To UNITED STATES nnersrna (10., or BATTLE CREEK, rcrnenmn oonroaarron or men- IGAN KEY OPERATED WARM- AIR. REGISTER Application filed December 31, 11930. Serial No. 505,896.

member 14 carried by the base 15 of thel This invention relates to key operated warm air registers or ventilators of similar structure, and has for its object the construction of register operating means of special 5 character particularly adapted for application to registers in hospitals, institutions for the feeble minded or insane, or where there are very young children. The construction is intended to prevent the operation of the register by any inmate, and to require for its operation an implement of individual and specific form externally applied, such as a particular key in the custody of an attendant. It is further intended as an object of the construction of this invention to render it diflicult or impracticable for any one to operate the register by means of an ordinary screw driver or common pliers or any familiar tool.

A preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing whereof Fig. 1 represents a horizontal section through the slats of a register with this invention applied thereto and the slats closed. Fig. 2 is a like section showing the slats open. Fig. 3 is a front view showing the register face or front applied. Fig. 4 is a front view of the operating means detached. Fig. 5 1s a back view of the operating means dctached. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the operating means detached, and Fig. 7 is an end view of the said means.

Throughout the description and drawing the same number is used to refer to the same 5 part.

Considering the drawing, a register frame 1 has the vertical spaced bars 2 at the front, and may have a horizontal piece 3 extending between certain of the bars. Guide lugs 4 and are attached on the inner upper surface of the frame 1 and at the back is a raised. portion 6. Between the lugs and the raised back portion is a slide 7 provided with pins 8 in engagement with slotted angle pleces 9 projecting from the slats 10. The slats have the pivots 11 rising from the back portion (3 which is stationary.

The slide 7 has projecting therefrom a slotted piece 12 and movably engaging the slot is a crank pin 13 extending from a crank register operating means. The base 15 has a raised front 16 and a raised back 17 The front 16 is highest, and in Fig. 6 it is shown that the front 16 has an opening 'intowhich the shaft-18 extends and terminates. That is to say, the end of shaft 18 does not roject beyond the face of the front 16. he ar- TEN rangemcnt is, intentional in order that the end of the shaft 18 may not be gripped by a pair ofordinary pincers and be thereby operated by careless or unauthorized persons.

The base 15 is secured to the register frame by screws 19. A portion of the front 16 is turned up and a cylindrical portion of shaft 18 is supported rotatively in the upturned portion 20. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the lip-turned portion 20 has, projecting points or teeth 21, and such teeth engage like teeth of a ratchet wheel 22 which is carried upon the squared part of the shaft 18 and turns with the shaft. The shaft also turns in the back 17, and between the ratchet wheel back 17 and Wheel 22 and hold same in anv desired position and in mesh with teeth 21.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the facing or register front 24 is secured in place'in the usual manner, and has a blank-portion pro vided with a keyhole 25 through which the shank of the key 26 may be introduced to engage the end of the shaft 18 in the front 16 of the operating members. The end of the shaft 18 is shown as square, and the key 25 would be formed accordingly. It is, how ever, held to be within the purview of this invention to fashion the end of the shaft 18 and the key in any chosen shape so that it is individual and may not be turned by means of any ordinary tdol liable to be at hand in I pieces 9 turn the slats 10 on their pivots 11 into opened or closed positions as desired. It is believed to be clear that the construction and arrangement disclosed prevents any one but the holder of a suitable key from adjusting the register slats, and the entrance of the suitable amount of warm air may be controlled in amount by the attendant.

Having now described this invention and themode of its use and operation, I claim 1-. In aregister, the combination with a frame having pivoted slats, of a slide, said slats and slide having mutually engaging devices whereby the movement of the slide 15 opens and closes said slats, a movable crank member having a projecting pin, said slide having a projection engaging the pin of the crank, a shaft secured to the crank to operate the same, a ratchet wheel constructed 2 to be turned by the shaft, a member having teeth engaging the ratchet wheel, said wheel and member being relatively movable one towards the other, a spring arranged to hold said wheel and member yieldingly together,

4 and a stationary support for the shaft.

2. In a register, the combination with a frame having pivoted slats, of a slide, said slats and slide havingmutually engaging devices whereby the movement of the slide 9- opens and closes said slats, a movable crank member having a projecting pin, said slide having a projection engaging the pin of the crank, a shaft secured to the crank to operate the same, said shaft having a squared end, a front piece having an opening admitting the said end of the shaft and flush with the extremity thereof,"a ratchet wheel constructed to be turned by the shaft, a member having teeth engaging the ratchet wheel,

said wheel and member being relatively movable one towards'the other, a spring arranged to hold said wheel and member yieldinglytogether, and a stationary support for the shaft.

r In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM THOMAS TRUAX. 

